18 Aug 1943HMS Otus (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner, RN) departed Rothesay for Freetown. She made the passage in company with HMS Una (Lt. W.G. Meeke, DSC, RN) that was to proceed to Fishguard to aid in A/S training. The submarines were escorted by HMS Blade (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S.T. Wenlock, RNR).

For the daily positions of HMS Otus during the passage from Rothesay to Simonstown, South Africa see the map below.

As no log is available for August 1943 only positions from 1 September 1943 onwards can be displayed.

5 Sep 1944HMS Terrapin (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner, RN) departed from Trincomalee for her 3rd war patrol (2nd in the Far East). She is to patrol of the North and East coast of Sumatra. She is also to perform a special operation (details to follow) and to perform air/sea rescue duties.

For the daily and attack positions of HMS Terrapin during this patrol see the map below.

(8)

11 Sep 1944HMS Terrapin (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner, RN) performs a special operation ('Spratt Able'. She tries to land a party with but the attempt is not successful due to strong currents near the landing position (on the North coast of Sumatra near 05°16'N, 96°11'E) (8)

(All times are zone -6.5)
2057 hours - Stopped and boarded a 16 ton Eastbound junk in position 04°00'N, 99°10'E. The crew of 7 Chinese took to their sampan and were brought aboard. The junk was left in a water lodged condition, having been opened up with demolition charges. The cargo consisted of mostly tobacco.

Shortly afterwards stopped a second junk. The crew of 3 Malays was taken onboard. The junk was destroyed by gunfire and ramming. The cargo consisted of rice and mixed spices. (8)

(All times are zone -6.5)
0730 hours - In position 03°18'N, 99°48'E sighted a ship bearing 150°, course 295°. Coaster type of about 600 tons. Closed to engage with gunfire.

0801 hours - Surfaced for gun action at 4000 yards. The target held her course and opened a rapid fire with her 12pdr gun. As soon as this gun was silenced she made for the shoals. The target could not be stopped by gunfire so continued to fire until she sank in position 03°18'N, 99°45'E. 120 Rounds were expired. (8)

1623 hours - Commenced attack on convoy consisting of one 3000 tons merchant ship, one medium seized tanker and a coaster. They were escorted by a gunboat, one ML and one twin-engined aircraft overhead.

1659 hours - Fired 5 torpedoes at the merchant ship from 1700 yards. The gunboat ran into the tracks sustaining two hits. A third torpedo also exploded, possibly in the wreckage.

1701 hours - The merchant ship and the tanker had both altered course and made off for the shoals. (8)

12 Dec 1944HMS Terrapin (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner, RN) departed from Trincomalee for her 5th war patrol (4th in the Far East). She is to perform a special operation and to patrol in the Malacca Straits with HMS Trenchant.

For the daily and attack positions of HMS Terrapin during this patrol see the map below.

(All times are zone -6.5)
1230 hours - In position 03°51'N, 100°41'E sighted a ship bearing 330°. This ship was reported earlier by HMS Trenchant. Range was about 5 nautical miles.

1300 hours - Started a torpedo attack but this soon had to be abandoned due to the erratic course of the target.

1347 hours - Signalled Trenchant on SST of the intention to surface and attack with the deck gun. Shortly afterwards surfaced and attacked with the deck gun as intended. During the battle machine gun fire from the enemy wounded two men of Terrapins gun crew.

1405 hours - The target sank, after 45 rounds, in position 03°49'N, 100°42'E. Three Chinese survivors were rescued, the Japanese declined to be picked up. Trenchant now closed on the surface and transferred her doctor to treat the wounded. The Chinese survivors identified the ship as Sakura Maru but no details of this ship are known (8)

1610 hours - Sighted the steamer bearing 210°. Enemy course was 300°. Prepared to engage with gunfire and closed HMS Trenchant. Four other small vessels were observed to be in company with the target, which turned out to be an armed trawler.

1625 hours - Surfaced on the starboard bow of the trawler and opened fire at 3800 yards range. HMS Trenchant in the meantime had surfaced on the target's beam and was already hitting. The target replied to HMS Trenchant's gunfire. Only one salvo was fired against HMS Terrapin.

1637 hours - The trawler, which had caught fire, blew up in position 03°17'N, 99°40'E. Shifted target to one of the small coasters. Scored a hit and the coaster immediately turned for the shore. Meanwhile left another coaster stopped and burning. The other two escaped into shallow water. In all Terrapin had expended 50 rounds of 4". (8)

1255 hours - Received an enemy report on SS/T from HMS Trenchant. Set course to intercept.

1309 hours - The enemy was in sight again bearing 042°.

1318 hours - Identified the enemy as two gunboats or minelayers and a smaller vessel, probably a submarine chaser.

1325 hours - Fired 5 torpedoes against the leading gunboat / minelayer from 4000 yards. After 1 minute and 40 seconds after the first torpedo was fired the target disintegrated. Position was 03°22'N, 99°41'E. Terrapin was not hunted after the attack. (8)

15 Feb 1945HMS Terrapin (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner, RN) departed from Trincomalee for her 6th war patrol (5th in the Far East). She is to perform a special operation and to patrol in the Malacca Straits with HMS Trenchant. She is also to carry out a special operation.

For the daily and attack positions of HMS Terrapin during this patrol see the map below.

0026 hours - The target was seen to be a motor coaster, wooden built of about 200 tons. Fired two warning bursts of machine gun fire.

0027 hours - Completed destruction of the coaster with 4" gunfire. Placed five round in the hull around the waterline from close range.

0030 hours - The target was now on fire. Only one member of the crew was seen to jump overboard.

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0922 hours - HMS Trenchant signalled that she had spotted 3 coasters grounded to the Eastward.

0939 hours - Surfaced in position 03°58'N, 100°34'E and closed HMS Trenchant. 3 Coasters had beached themselves south of the Perak river mouth. Both submarines opened fire and soon all 3 coasters were alight.

1055 hours - Dived in position 13°57'N, 100°34'E while being strafed by a Japanese aircraft that had arrived on the scene. No damage was sustained. (8)

1012 hours - Passed operation order to HMS Trenchant. Both submarines were to engage the enemy with gunfire if the bomber escort allowed.

1014 hours - Passed the fire distribution signal. The 2 small vessels however soon showed themselves to be part of a convoy of at least 9 vessels. Unfortunately the bomber still remained overhead.

1040 hours - Terrapin was now 2000 yards on the Port beam of the leading ship of the convoy which spread over a distance of about a mile, for the most part the ships were in single line ahead formation. The bomber was out of sight for a while but Trenchant reported that she had him in sight. Fine on the convoys Port quarter there were two small escorts, either Motor Torpedo Boats or Motor Launches.

1108 hours - In position 03°09'N, 99°56'E fired a stern salvo of 3 torpedoes against 3 overlapping coasters but no hits were observed, neither did the escorts take any action. Withdrew from the scene. (8)

(All times are zone 6.5)
0205 hours - Sank a Chinese trading junk of about 50 tons in position 03°33'N, 100°51'E. This vessel was drifting derelict having no crew, and apparently no cargo on board.

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2253 hours - Boarded a 30 ton junk and destroyed it with demolition charges. Five Chinese crewmembers were taken aboard as well as 100 dozen eggs. (No position is listed in the ships log and the patrol report). (8)

(All times are zone -6.5)
2337 hours - Stopped and boarded a 70 ton junk Southbound in position 03°39'N, 100°38'E. The crew of 4 Chinese was taken aboard. The junk was then sunk by demolition charges. (8)

15 May 1945 (position -5.13, 106.44)HMS Terrapin (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner, DSC, RN) is grounded off Arnemuiden Bank. She only managed go get off the rocks after blowing overboard some fuel and firing two torpedoes.

0412 hours - Came off astern, having lightened ship by blowing 15700 gallons of fuel from the external tanks and firing two bow torpedoes while going full astern. Damage was done to the log and the bow cap of torpedo tube number 5. (8)

17 May 1945 (position -6.11, 108.13)HMS Terrapin (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner, DSC, RN) sank two sailing vessels with gunfire and demolition charges in the western part of the Java Sea in position 06°11'S, 108°13'E.

(All times are zone -8)
1552 hours - Surfaced in position 06°10'8"S, 108°13'E to sink a Westbound motor lugger and a coal carrying schooner of about 70 tons. The latter was Eastbound but had anchored on account of the unfavourable wind. On opening fire, the lugger, which was towing a prow, beached herself and about 40 men, many carrying rifles were seen to jump overboard and head for the beach. The crew of the schooner made off in their sampan. The schooner was destroyed with demolition charges.

1701 hours - Dived in position 06°12'5"S, 108°11'E.

1913 hours - Surfaced and finished off the schooner with 9 rounds of gunfire. (8)

19 May 1945 (position -5.58, 107.42)HMS Terrapin (Lt. R. H. H. Brunner, DSC, RN) is damaged on 19 May 1945 while west of Batavia, Java in the Java Sea by depth charges from a Japanese escort vessel while attacking an escorted tanker. She is forced to abandon her war patrol due to the damage sustained.

(All times are zone -8)
1314 hours - In position 05°58'5"S, 107°42'5"E sighted masts and upper works of a ship bearing 280°.

1320 hours - Started attack.

1327 hours - The target was now bearing 273°, range 6000 yards, course 100°. Two escorts were seen, one on each beam of the target. Continued to run out to reach a position on the port quarter of the nearest escort.

1331 hours - Now right ahead of the escort but could not get a favourable position for attack with the bow tubes so went for a stern salvo instead.

1342 hours - Fired 3 stern torpedoes from 2500 yards at the target, thought to be a small tanker or 'funnel aft' freighter. Ordered depth 60 feet upon firing but hit bottom at 57 feet. No torpedo hits were heard after their expected running time so all torpedoes must have missed.

1351 hours - One explosion was heard, most likely an end of run torpedo explosion. HE of one of the escorts was heard coming closer.

1357 hours - Five depth charges were dropped close causing some minor damage.

1407 hours - Five more depth charges were dropped very close resulting in serious damage amongst damage to the pressure hull forward. It was obvious the escort knew exactly where Terrapin was. It was decided to stay on the bottom and not make any noise trying to escape with the hope of escaping after dark.

1420 hours - Another run overhead by the escort, one depth charge was dropped, once again very close.

1538 hours - Another depth charge, now a bit further away.

1545 hours - The escort went overhead again and dropped 2 depth charges very, very close. One on each side amidships. Six more runs overhead followed but no more depth charges were dropped, most likely he was nearly out of supply of these. Luck for Terrapin as it saved her from destruction.

1800 hours - Nothing further had been heard so efforts were made to get off the bottom but without success.

1839 hours - The enemy went overhead again dropping two depth charges (probably his last). These were again very close but caused no further damage.

1846 hours - Final run of the enemy overhead. He did not drop anything.

1959 hours - Blew main ballast and came off the bottom. Surfaced at full speed ahead. Saw the enemy just abaft the port beam, range about 5000 yards. Altered course and left the area at full speed. Terrapin was not sighted by the enemy. Decided to escape through Sunda Strait.

During the night repairs were made. Terrapin was able to dive for trim early next morning but it took several attempts before a satisfactory trim was found. She continued towards Lombok Strait on the surface. It was not possible to sent a signal about the situation as the wireless transmitter was damaged in the attack and beyond repair.

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Some examples of the Major damage that was sustained by Terrapin in this depth charging:

Pressure hull distorted forward and stove in on both sides abreast the forward torpedo tubes.

All forward torpedo tube firing gear displaced or otherwise damaged. The torpedo tubes were distorted and leaking through the bow caps.

The fore hydroplanes were stiff to operate and could not be turned in.

Asdic and hydrophones were defective.

Forward periscope top glass fractured and tube flooded. After periscope almost useless.

Several leaks in ballast and fuel tanks. (8)

21 May 1945 (position -6.03, 113.49)While proceeding towards Lombok Strait HMS Terrapin (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner, DSC, RN) encounters the American submarine USS Cavalla in position 06°03'S, 113°49'E. The Cavalla is also returning to Fremantle. Cavalla signals the status of Terrapin and it is decided that she will escort Terrapin all the way to Fremantle. That night both submarines made the southbound passage of Lombok Strait. (8)

23 Jul 1945HMS Terrapin (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner, DSC, RN) departed from Fremantle for the U.K. Repairs to her distorted pressure hull are not possible in Australia. When she arrived in the U.K. her fate will be decided. The first leg of the trip home is to Aden.

For the daily positions of HMS Terrapin during this passage see the map below.